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Creatures from Planet X: Spiders
Students are given a description of some fascinating animals from "Planet X". They follow the descriptions given to illustrate one of these animals paying careful attention to introduced vocabulary such as 'appendages', 'receptors', and...
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Gravity
Sixth graders explore the characteristics of gravity. They discuss gravity on Earth and then use cereal boxes to research and compare the weight of objects on Earth to the weight of those objects on other planets.
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The Cassini Robot
Pupils compare the functions of a robot to that of the human body. In this technology lesson, students identify the important components of the Cassini robot that would enable it to carry out space missions. They design and build their...
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Charting The Progress of New Horizons
Learners explore the long distances and timescales involved in space travel. They track the progress of the New Horizons spacecraft and access the New Horizons website to discover the distance of the spacecraft from the Sun, and then...
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Satellite Mobiles
Students discuss satellites and their functions. They design and construct their own satellite out of readily available materials. Students are taught the definition of a satellite. They discuss the two main purposes of satellites:...
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Human Factors
Students design a space settlement for colonizing a planet in our solar system. In small groups, they play a space colony game and read an article about human needs in space to prepare for the design stage. They discuss their design...
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Rover Races
Students simulate driving a rover on the surface of Mars. For this space science lesson, students identify the challenges experienced by astronauts in operating a vehicle. They recommend some changes to make their 'rover' better.
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Just How Big is this Place?
Students are introduced to the the formula for calculating travel time. They listen to different scenarios relating to long distance travel into space and calculate travel time using the formula.
Space Awareness
The Intertropical Convergence Zone
Young scientists know it is hotter along the equator, but why is it also rainier? Through the process of completing two experiments and a worksheet, scholars discover the answer is the intertropical convergence zone. First, they...
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Solar System: Uranus
Students research Uranus and its geological formation, atmosphere, magnetic field, satellites, and rings.
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SKY PATHS: STUDYING THE MOVEMENT OF CELESTIAL OBJECTS
Students observe the position of an object in the sky by describing its location relative to another object or the background, describe an object's motion by tracing and measuring its position over time, and create their own myths about...
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Does the Distance Between the Earth and Sun Cause the seasons?
Young scholars reflect upon the concepts of seasons. The concepts are taught using a variety of different teaching approaches. A activities lead to a reflection that will help students to make a cognitive transfer of information form...
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The Sun
In this space science worksheet, students identify and name which gases make up the sun and the name of the part of the sun that we can see from Earth. Then they describe a solar eclipse and draw a diagram illustrating what happens...
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Lesson Plan on Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion
Learners construct a solar system model. For this space science lesson, students calculate the eccentricity of a planet's orbit. They calculate the period of a planet's revolution using Kepler's formula.
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Planet of Plenty
Students examine a small piece of land to determine the diversity of life on Earth. They role play as visitors from outer space seeing life on Earth for the first time. They measure and observe their plots while working in small groups....
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Stellarium
Students explore the rotation of the planets from various locations on Earth
Using planetarium software, they will make observations, and explain how the rotation of the planets varies based on ones location on the Earth. Students...
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Planetarium- Identifying Constellations
Young scholars explore the planetarium. In this space science instructional activity, students identify the different constellations in the sky. They make their own map of the constellations.
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Planet X
Students select a wide variety of presentation methods to compare Planet X and Earth. Students share these with their classmates. Students select other methods to present their ideas about a livable planet for human life forms. ...
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Planets Database
Students research and create a database about planets and share the information.
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Rolling Through Space
Seventh graders use a foll of toilet paper to visualize the vast distance that separates the sun and the planets of our solar system.
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Growing Plants Using Space Technology
Students explain why delivering planet nutrients to crops at the correct time and amount is important. Students list possible negative effects of improper nutrient delivery. Students descrive two problems that farmers are now able to...
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Cargo Activity Practice
Students examine the cargo load that is needed during the simulation of a space rescue mission. They brainstorm in order to think of possible things needed onboard in storage. Then students create an inventory list that includes water...
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Voyage: A Journey through our Solar System
Young scholars build the Voyage scale model of the Solar System on a playground and "travel" to each planet. They recognize that the Sun and planets are tiny worlds in a vast space, giving them a new perspective on the Solar System, and...
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A Whole New World
Young scholars work in small groups to investigate statistics regarding the solar system and participate in a 'scientific conference'. They explore available information about the extrasolar planet and assess the importance of this...